Introduction
The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction (DOC) is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Secretary 2 to support the Education Unit and working directly with the Directors and Administration out of Central Office located in Wethersfield, CT.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
- Visit our NEW State Employee Benefits Overview page!
- The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click here for more information;
- Professional growth and development opportunities;
- A healthy work/life balance for all employees!
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
- This position is full-time, following a first shift schedule, 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM.
- Education in the CT Department of Correction (DOC) is provided through Unified School District #1 (USD#1).
- USD #1 is a legally vested school district within the DOC.
This position supports the Directors and Administrators working for the Education Unit in Central Office. This person will be tasked to perform duties such as:
- Answering phones;
- Sorting and distributing mail;
- Data preparation and entry in charts and graphs;
- Filing;
- Communicating student updates to staff;
- Supply ordering and record keeping;
- Coordinating office support services;
- Communicating and responding to members of the community;
- Taking and maintaining meeting minutes;
- Preparing reports and financial data;
- Receiving and directing visitors;
- Internet research; and
- Calendar management.
OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT
USD #1 is dedicated to providing quality educational programs for incarcerated individuals. Students are offered academic knowledge, vocational competencies, and life skills integrated with technology in a positive environment to foster lifelong learning, multicultural awareness, and a successful social transition. USD#1 offers an array of academic programming, including:
- K-12 High School Program
- Adult Basic Education (ABE)
- General Education Development (GED)
- Credit Diploma Program (CDP)
- English Second Language (ESL)/ Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and;
- a wide variety of Career-Technical Education (CTE) programs.
Our USD#1 motto is defined by the Latin phrase on the District's seal. The phrase, "Non Sum Qualis Eram," translates into English, as "I am not what I once was." The hope is that returning citizens will be provided with some of the core tools required to change their path in life through education.
The Connecticut Department of Correction is a diverse agency with a wide variety of employees from Correction Officers, to Educators, to Managers and Skilled Professionals. We value differences that make us stronger as a team and support our mission statement.
The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) is the agency responsible for corrections in the U.S. state of Connecticut. The agency operates 13 correctional facilities. It has its headquarters in Wethersfield. The DOC protects public safety by ensuring offenders serve their sentences of imprisonments in facilities that are safe, human, and provide re-entry programming.
The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction is a unified system; all sentenced and un-sentenced offenders are supervised by the DOC. The Department also provides supervision for offenders on parole, community release, and other discretionary release programs.
The mission of USD #1 is to provide quality education programs for incarcerated individuals so that they can make a successful transition to society. Academic knowledge, Vocational competencies, use of technology and life skills integrated with technology are offered to students in a positive environment to foster lifelong learning, multicultural awareness.
For an inside look at what it's like to work as an employee for the State of Connecticut, please watch the video below!
Selection Plan
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Reference Library for additional support throughout the recruitment process.
BEFORE YOU APPLY:
- Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
- Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below.
- Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
- Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
- Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
- Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
- Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
AFTER YOU APPLY:
- Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
- Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
- Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
- The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
- Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:
Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Alejandro G. Dávila-Hurtado at alejandro.davila-hurtado@ct.gov.
Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In a state agency this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of secretarial support functions requiring an understanding of organizational policies and procedures.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
Performs a variety of secretarial duties as described in the following areas:
- TYPING:
- Using computers, tablets, and other electronic equipment, formats and types a full range of correspondence, reports, bills, drafts, etc. from rough draft, transcription, dictated notes, etc.;
- Proofreads for content;
- Edits using knowledge of grammar, punctuation and spelling.
- FILING:
- Designs office filing systems;
- Organizes and maintains files (including confidential files);
- Maintains, updates and reviews reference materials and manuals.
- CORRESPONDENCE:
- Composes complex letters and/or memoranda, etc. (e.g., explaining department practices/policies) for own or supervisor's signature.
- REPORT WRITING:
- Compiles information from a variety of sources and prepares narrative or statistical reports, exercising judgment in the selection of items to be included.
- INTERPERSONAL:
- Greets and directs visitors;
- Answers phones and screens incoming calls;
- Provides advice to callers regarding policy and procedures (e.g., citing a regulation to solve a specific problem);
- Coordinates with others both within and outside of the organization on a variety of non-routine matters.
- PROCESSING:
- Screens letters, memos, reports and other materials to determine action required;
- May make recommendations to the supervisor.
- SECRETARY:
- Arranges and coordinates meetings (including space and equipment);
- Researches, assembles and coordinates meeting materials (e.g., charts, graphs, reports);
- Writes minutes of meetings, lectures, conferences, etc. from rough draft;
- Takes notes and/or meeting minutes;
- Prepares expense accounts;
- Makes travel arrangements.
- OFFICE MANAGEMENT:
- Maintains an inventory of supplies and equipment;
- Orders supplies when necessary;
- Completes, processes and maintains paperwork for purchasing (e.g., orders, requisitions, invoices, etc.);
- Maintains time and attendance records;
- Assists in preparing and monitoring the office budget (e.g., compiles figures, reviews statistical reports, verifies expense items);
- Designs and initiates new forms and procedures to facilitate workflow;
- Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Considerable knowledge of
- office systems and procedures;
- proper grammar, punctuation and spelling;
- Knowledge of
- business communications;
- department's/unit's policies and procedures;
- business math;
- Skills;
- interpersonal skills;
- oral and written communication skills;
- Ability to
- schedule and prioritize office workflow;
- operate office equipment which includes computers, tablets, and other electronic equipment;
- operate office suite software;
- take notes (shorthand, speedwriting or other method acceptable to the supervisor).
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Three (3) years of experience above the routine clerk level in office support or secretarial work.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE
One (1) year of the General Experience must have been as a Secretary 1 or its equivalent.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED
College training in the secretarial sciences may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of two (2) years.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working in an education setting, with an understanding of the inner workings of a school;
- Experience with CT Special Education Data System (CTSEDS);
- Experience using Microsoft Excel for tracking and sorting data, as well as constructing charts and graphs;
- Experience using Microsoft Outlook calendars for scheduling meetings;
- Experience performing administrative and office support activities for multiple supervisors;
- Experience with high volume data entry;
- Professional experience with State of CT Education Software Programs including: Adult Ed. Reporting, PSIS (Public School Information System);
- Experience working with CoreCT to enter requisitions and review Time & Attendance;
- Experience organizing and maintaining regular (daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly) activities;
- Experience completing and improving regular multistep processes; and
- Experience with business communications including, writing and editing letters and memos.
Conclusion
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.